55 years ago/June 6, 1967

On the southern front the forces of Major General Israel Tal reached and within short time captured el-Arish. Meanwhile, the defenders of Gaza surrendered at 12:45, and Khan Yunis fell as well. During the fight for Gaza UNEF troops suffered losses. The forces of Major General Avraham Yoffe, after an airstrike and getting some reinforcements, attacked Bir Lahfan. It turned out that the Egyptian troops evacuated it, so they began to chase them. At 3:30 the Israeli troops broke through the defence of Um-Katef, it was captured in the morning. Abu Ageila was evacuated by the Egyptians. After that one brigade left for the Mitla Pass, one in western direction, and one towards Nakhle, but it had to stop because of the increasing resistance. During the day the Israeli leadership realized the situation, and made a new plan. They sent two armoured brigade to break through the Egyptian forces, than set up positions at the Mitla and Gidi Passes, and at Bir Gifgafa, while the rest chase the Egyptian troops towards them. Meanwhile, the Israeli Air Force were attacking the Egyptian forces all day. Meanwhile Field Marshal Abdel Hakim Amer – without asking President Nasser – gave order for withdrawal to the west bank of the Suez Canal. Later he withdrew his order, causing bigger chaos. On top of it all, Cairo still issued fake reports of the situation. They also began to broadcast that the British and American air forces were helping Israel. The Egyptian government closed the Suez Canal. On the Jordanian front the Jordanian forces still hold on at Jenin. Qalqilya fell. During the night the Jordanian forces continued to bombard Israeli towns and villages. The Israeli Air Force halted the Jordanian attempts to relieve Jerusalem. On the northern front Israel was bombarding Syrian positions, while Syrian artillery was bombarding Kibbutzim near to the armistice line. The UN Security Council adopted unanimously Resolution 233 (1967) which called for an immediate cease-fire and cessation of all military activities. The US and the UK denied the allegation about there participation on the side of Israel.